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The Ayurvedic Approach to Fatigue
Wiping Away Fatigue
Are you feeling brain-dead, emotionally stressed out, or just plain
pooped? If so, you have company. Researchers report that the majority
of adult Americans today suffer from stress and tiredness.
A stress-driven body and mind is the major cause of fatigue, and
unfortunately, for many people this is a normal state of living in
today's hectic world. Most people have lost touch with the normal
experience of 'calm energy,' which is a state of low tension and high
energy that allows for optimism, confidence, and the stamina
necessary to enjoy success, love and happiness.
Happily, Maharishi Ayurveda is well-equipped to restore balance and
combat the underlying causes of the general, stress-related tiredness
that many Americans suffer from today.
What Causes Fatigue?
"According to Maharishi Ayurveda, fatigue is caused by overuse,
misuse or no use of the mind, emotions or body," says Vaidya Mishra,
Director of Product Development at Maharishi Ayurveda Products
International. "For instance, your job may be easy for you, but if
you have to put in a lot of overtime, that can result in fatigue."
Misuse is doing something that is against your nature. "If you are an
honest person, and you find yourself in a situation where you feel
pressured to lie or cheat, that misuse of your mental faculties could
cause you to feel fatigued," he explains.
An example of physical misuse is knowing that a physical task is
beyond your capability, but doing it anyway. Or perhaps your heart is
very tender, and you are surrounded by people who are habitually
angry -- an example of emotional misuse.
"Even lack of use can cause fatigue," says Vaidya Mishra. "'Use it or
lose it' applies not only to the body, but to the brain and emotions
as well."
The first step in correcting fatigue is to determine the cause. You
can ask yourself if your fatigue is caused by physical, mental or
emotional factors. And is it caused by overuse, misuse or lack of use?
"Once you know which behavior is causing the fatigue, you must, of
course, stop that behavior," says Vaidya Mishra. "Become familiar
with your stress-point and your own level of comfort. The solution to
the problem of fatigue is found in one sentence: proper use of the
mind, body and emotions."
The Three Doshas and Fatigue
There is a relationship between the three doshas and the three main
types of fatigue. Mental fatigue is associated with an imbalance in
Vata dosha, emotional fatigue is caused by an imbalance in Pitta
dosha, and physical fatigue is caused by an imbalance in Kapha dosha.
Ama, or impurities caused by undigested food, is a major cause of all
three types of fatigue - mental, emotional and physical. To avoid all
types of fatigue, avoid leftovers, fast foods, foods grown with
chemical fertilizers or sprayed with pesticides, or packaged, canned,
frozen or processed foods.
Mental Fatigue
Laura, 32 and single, was a buyer for a large department store and
had advanced rapidly in the past four years. However, she found
herself aging rapidly, and was alarmed to see dark circles under her
eyes, premature wrinkles, and a dull, pasty complexion rather than
the rosy-red cheeks of her college years. Despite taking prescribed
sleeping medication, she was unable to fall asleep at night. At least
three times a week she felt utter mental exhaustion by the end of the
day. She was frightened that her mind would not be able to keep up
with her increasing responsibilities, and suffered from frequent
tension headaches. She smoked, took aspirin for her headaches and
diet pills to stay thin.
Laura's problems were caused by an imbalance in Vata dosha, which is
typical in cases of mental fatigue, and were compounded by her
smoking and medications. Calming activities such as gardening and
leisurely walks, along with regular practice of Transcendental
Meditation®, helped her stay relaxed, yet alert and composed.
Aromatherapy also helped.
For her concerns about aging skin, she started on a regimen of the
Youthful Skin Cream, which according to research is remarkably
effective in returning elasticity to the skin and smoothing out
wrinkles, and the Youthful Skin Tablets, to provide nourishment to
skin cells.
Now, months later, Laura is a changed person. She does not use
medication for sleep any longer, and feels recharged in both mind and
body.
Emotional Fatigue
A 37-year-old mother of two children aged 7 and 10, Maryana held down
a full-time job as head of marketing for a major corporation. Her
principal complaint was overwhelming fatigue. Her energy level
dropped so low that she often felt annoyed to the point of anger by
her children's natural needs for her time and attention. She felt
guilty for being an unloving mother and neglectful wife. She often
woke up in the middle of the night worrying, and caught every flu or
cold her children came home with. Drinking 8 cups of coffee to get
through each day only added to her irritability and fatigue. In her
own words, she was continually upset with her husband, her children,
her friends--even the dishwasher repairman--about nothing, absolutely
nothing at all.
Maryana had placed herself under tremendous emotional stress. She
needed to build some deep rest into her day to help eliminate that
stress. So she started the Transcendental Meditation program to
provide deep rest and eliminate stress. She turned off her portable
phone, which she habitually answered even during meals and in bed.
She started on a Pitta-pacifying diet and daily routine, along with
Pitta Churna and Pitta Tea instead of coffee to help balance her
emotions and nurture her body-type. She also stopped eating excessive
amounts of white sugar for a false energy rush, stopped skipping
meals, and ate a pear or a whole-grain bagel between meals when she
felt hungry.
Maryana also started using a powerful antioxidant and other ayurvedic
herbal supplements for sleep and fatigue and to help remove the
toxins that had accumulated in her liver from eating ama-producing
fast foods on the run.
In just three months Maryana reported that she only had occasional
fatigue when she would 'overdo,' but not the bone-wearing fatigue
that had once been her constant companion. Her emotional and physical
symptoms gradually washed away and she felt that her life, though
still complex, was back in balance.
Physical Fatigue
A 35-year-old lawyer, Paul was married and the father of one. He had
recently become a partner in a large firm, and reported difficulty in
maintaining the competitive pace. Exercise had fallen by the wayside,
and he had put on 25 pounds in the last year alone. He took a variety
of laxatives and antacids for his sluggish digestion and frequent
constipation. Even though he slept eight hours a night, Paul felt
exhausted when he woke up. While he used to have great physical
stamina, he now found himself with frequent chest congestion and
wheezed while climbing flights of stairs. His knees ached and he felt
and looked ten years older than his age. Worse, he wasn't sure he
could keep up with his job, because his thinking had become slower
and duller. He frequently felt congested in body, mind and spirit.
Paul's complaints were due to a Kapha imbalance and lack of exercise.
To restore balance, he started a program of gradual weight loss,
because that was contributing to a vicious cycle of physical fatigue.
He took an ayurvedic tea and supplements to help stimulate his
digestion and metabolize fat. His life had become too sedentary and
sluggish, so he started on an exercise program, and took another
ayurvedic formula to support his knees and other joints. Other
recommendations for Paul included a sleep formula designed especially
for people who sleep soundly during the night but wake up feeling
exhausted. A daily abhyanga (ayurvedic massage) using Rejuvenation
Massage Oil for Men also stimulated his digestion and moved out
toxins. Paul also learned the Transcendental Meditation™ program,
and
started a Kapha pacifying diet and daily routine, using ghee in his
diet instead of butter. He started drinking five bottles of room
temperature water each day to clear away ama, and took an ayurvedic
full-spectrum antioxidant.
After ten weeks Paul had lost 15 pounds, his mind had become more
agile and quick, and he was able to maintain his energy level at a
steady pace without any symptoms of exhaustion.
Two final points of advice for dealing with Fatigue: Start cutting
back on coffee, coca cola, and caffeinated teas, and sleeping pills
to allow your body to reestablish a natural rest and activity cycle.
Second, schedule enough rest each day. The human nervous system and
body is not designed for a constant diet of tension, pressure, speed
and excitement. It must have adequate rest to permit natural
regeneration and recuperation, and to experience natural energy and
joy.
Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended
to replace standard medical care or advice.
Copyright MAPI, 2002.
For more information on Ayurveda or to subscribe to free newsletters,
plaese visit http://www.mapi.com
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